Laser finishing design tool with photorealistic preview of damage assets

ABSTRACT

A tool allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview these designs before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. Based on a laser input file with a pattern, a laser will burn the pattern onto apparel. With the tool, the user will be able to create, make changes, and view images of a design, in real time, before burning by a laser. Input to the tool includes fabric template images, laser input files, and damage input. The tool allows adding of tinting and adjusting of intensity and bright point. The user can also move, rotate, scale, and warp the image input.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/177,412, filed Oct. 31, 2018, issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,712,922 on Jul. 14, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. patentapplication 62/579,863, filed Oct. 31, 2017, These applications areincorporated by reference along with all other references cited in thisapplication.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparel finishing and, morespecifically, the use of a laser in the finishing of garments,especially denim including jeans, shirts, shorts, jackets, vests, andskirts, to obtain a faded, distressed, washed, or worn finish orappearance.

In 1853, during the California Gold Rush, Levi Strauss, a 24-year-oldGerman immigrant, left New York for San Francisco with a small supply ofdry goods with the intention of opening a branch of his brother's NewYork dry goods business. Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, Mr.Strauss realized that the miners and prospectors (called the “fortyniners”) needed pants strong enough to last through the hard workconditions they endured. So, Mr. Strauss developed the now familiarjeans which he sold to the miners. The company he founded, Levi Strauss& Co., still sells jeans and is the most widely known jeans brand in theworld. Levi's is a trademark of Levi Strauss & Co. or LS&Co.

Though jeans at the time of the Gold Rush were used as work clothes,jeans have evolved to be fashionably worn everyday by men and women,showing up on billboards, television commercials, and fashion runways.Fashion is one of the largest consumer industries in the U.S. and aroundthe world. Jeans and related apparel are a significant segment of theindustry.

As fashion, people are concerned with the appearance of their jeans.Many people desire a faded or worn blue jeans look. In the past, jeansbecame faded or distressed through normal wash and wear. The apparelindustry recognized people's desire for the worn blue jeans look andbegan producing jeans and apparel with a variety of wear patterns. Thewear patterns have become part of the jeans style and fashion. Someexamples of wear patterns include combs or honeycombs, whiskers, stacks,and train tracks.

Despite the widespread success jeans have enjoyed, the process toproduce modern jeans with wear patterns takes processing time, hasrelatively high processing cost, and is resource intensive. A typicalprocess to produce jeans uses significant amounts of water, chemicals(e.g., bleaching or oxidizing agents), ozone, enzymes, and pumice stone.For example, it may take about 20 to 60 liters of water to finish eachpair of jeans.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved process for finishing jeansthat reduces environmental impact, processing time, and processingcosts, while maintaining the look and style of traditional finishingtechniques. There is a need for tool to creating and previewing patternson jeans before laser finishing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tool allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview thesedesigns before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishingapparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. Based on alaser input file with a pattern, a laser will burn the pattern ontoapparel. With the tool, the user will be able to create, make changes,and view images of a design, in real time, before burning by a laser.Input to the tool includes fabric template images, laser input files,and damage input. The tool allows adding of tinting and adjusting ofintensity and bright point. The user can also move, rotate, scale, andwarp the image input.

In an implementation, a method includes providing a garment previewingtool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a jeans garmentcustomized by the user with a finishing pattern created using a laserinput file by a laser. The garment previewing tool includes: providingan option for the user to select a jeans garment base and upon theuser's selection, showing a first garment preview image on the computerscreen including a jeans base image for the selected garment base;providing an option for the user to select a wear pattern from a menu ofwear patterns, where each wear pattern is associated with a laser inputfile to be used by a laser to produce that wear pattern onto a jeansgarment; after the wear pattern is selected, showing a second garmentpreview image on the computer screen including the selected wear patternin combination with the jeans base image, where the second garmentpreview image replaces the first garment preview image; in the secondgarment preview image, allowing the user to select the wear pattern andmodify a sizing of the wear pattern relative to the jeans base image,where as the user makes changes, the modified sizing of the wear patternis displayed to the user in real time; in the second garment previewimage, allowing the user to select the wear pattern and modify aposition of the wear pattern relative to the jeans base image, where asthe user makes changes, the modified positioning of the wear pattern isdisplayed to the user in real time; and showing a third garment previewimage on the computer screen including the jeans base image and selectedwear pattern, with modified sizing or modified positioning, or acombination.

The method can further include: providing a target pair of jeanscorresponding to the jeans garment base selected by the user; and basedon laser input file associated with the third garment preview imageincluding the selected wear pattern with modified sizing or modifiedpositioning, or a combination, using a laser to create a finishingpattern on an outer surface of the target jeans.

In an implementation, a method includes providing a garment previewingtool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a garment customizedby the user with a finishing pattern created using a laser input file bya laser. The garment previewing tool includes: providing an option forthe user to select a garment base and upon the user's selection, showinga first garment preview image on the computer screen including a baseimage for the selected garment base; providing an option for the user toselect a pattern from a menu of patterns, where each pattern isassociated with a laser input file; after the pattern is selected,showing a second garment preview image on the computer screen includingthe selected pattern in combination with the base image, where thesecond garment preview image replaces the first garment preview image;in the second garment preview image, allowing the user to select thepattern and alter a sizing of the pattern relative to the base image,where as the user makes changes, the altered sizing of the pattern isdisplayed to the user in real time; in the second garment preview image,allowing the user to select the pattern and alter a position of thepattern relative to the base image, where as the user makes changes, thealtered positioning of the pattern is displayed to the user in realtime; and showing a third garment preview image on the computer screenincluding the base image and selected pattern, with altered sizing oraltered positioning, or a combination.

In an implementation, a method includes providing a garment previewingtool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a jeans garmentcustomized by the user with a finishing pattern created using a laserinput file by a laser. The garment previewing tool includes: providingan option for the user to select a jeans garment base and upon theuser's selection, showing a first garment preview image on the computerscreen including a jeans base image for the selected garment base;providing an option for the user to select a wear pattern from a menu ofwear patterns, where each wear pattern is associated with a laser inputfile to be used by a laser to produce that wear pattern onto a jeansgarment; after the wear pattern is selected, showing a second garmentpreview image on the computer screen including the selected wear patternin combination with the jeans base image, where the second garmentpreview image replaces the first garment preview image; in the secondgarment preview image, allowing the user to select the wear pattern andmodify a sizing of the wear pattern relative to the jeans base image,where as the user makes changes, the modified sizing of the wear patternis displayed to the user in real time; in the second garment previewimage, allowing the user to select the wear pattern and modify aposition of the wear pattern relative to the jeans base image, where asthe user makes changes, the modified positioning of the wear pattern isdisplayed to the user in real time; and showing a third garment previewimage on the computer screen including the jeans base image and selectedwear pattern, with modified sizing or modified positioning, or acombination.

The method can further include: providing a target pair of jeanscorresponding to the jeans garment base selected by the user; and basedon laser input file associated with the third garment preview imageincluding the selected wear pattern with modified sizing or modifiedpositioning, or a combination, using a laser to create a finishingpattern on an outer surface of the target jeans. The second garmentpreview image can be generated by: generating an adjusted base imagefrom the jean base image without the selected wear pattern; generating apattern mask based on the laser input file associated with the selectedwear pattern; for a pixel at a pixel location of the second previewimage, obtaining a first contribution for the pixel location of thesecond preview image by combining a first value for a pixelcorresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixelcorresponding to the pixel location for the jeans base image; for thepixel at the pixel location of the second preview image, obtaining asecond contribution at the pixel location for the second preview imageby combining a second value for a pixel corresponding to the pixellocation for the pattern mask and a pixel corresponding to the pixellocation for the adjusted base image; combining the first contributionand second contribution to obtain a color value for a pixel at the pixellocation for the second preview image, and displaying the color valuefor the pixel at the pixel location in the second preview image.

In an implementation, a method includes generating a preview image on acomputer screen of a garment with a finishing pattern created using alaser input file by a laser. The generating the preview includes:providing a base image of the assembled garment without the finishingpattern; generating an adjusted base image from the base image of theassembled garment without the finishing pattern; generating a patternmask based on the laser input file; for a pixel at a pixel location ofthe preview image, obtaining a first contribution for the pixel locationof the preview image by combining a first value for a pixelcorresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask and a pixelcorresponding to the pixel location for the base image; for the pixel atthe pixel location of the preview image, obtaining a second contributionat the pixel location for the preview image by combining a second valuefor a pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the pattern mask anda pixel corresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image;combining the first contribution and second contribution to obtain acolor value for a pixel at the pixel location for the preview image; anddisplaying the generated preview image on the computer screen includingthe color value for the pixel at the pixel location.

In an implementation, a method includes providing a garment previewingtool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a garment customizedby the user with a finishing pattern including a damage asset createdusing a damage asset laser input file by a laser, where the garmentpreviewing tool includes: providing an option for the user to select agarment base and upon the user's selection, showing a first garmentpreview image on the computer screen including a base image for theselected garment base; providing an option for the user to select adamage asset from a menu of damage assets, where each damage asset isassociated with a damage asset laser input file; after the damage assetis selected, showing a second garment preview image on the computerscreen including the selected damage asset in combination with the baseimage, where the second garment preview image replaces the first garmentpreview image; in the second garment preview image, allowing the user toselect the damage asset and alter a sizing of the damage asset relativeto the base image, where as the user makes changes, the altered sizingof the damage asset is displayed to the user in real time; in the secondgarment preview image, allowing the user to select the damage asset andalter a position of the damage asset relative to the base image, whereas the user makes changes, the altered positioning of the damage assetis displayed to the user in real time; and showing a third garmentpreview image on the computer screen including the base image andselected damage asset, with altered sizing or altered positioning, or acombination.

The damage asset can be created by: creating a damage shape in a blackcolor and storing in a damage asset laser input file, where the damageshape is associated with the damage asset; based on the damage assetlaser input file, using a laser to form the digital asset on a fabric;capturing an image of the damage asset on the fabric, and using theimage of the damage asset in the second garment preview image.

In an implementation, a method includes: creating a first damage shapein a black color; creating a second damage shape in a black color, wherethe second damage shape is different from the first damage shape;storing the first damage shape and second damage shape in a damage assetlaser input file; based on the damage asset laser input file, using alaser to form holes in a fabric based on the first and second damageshapes; washing the fabric with the holes; capturing a first image of afirst hole in the fabric that corresponds to the first shape; capturinga second image of a second hole in the fabric that corresponds to thesecond shape; using the first image as a first damage asset; using thesecond image as a second damage asset; providing a garment previewingtool that allows previewing on a computer screen of a garment customizedby the user with a finishing pattern including one or more damage assetsto be created using a laser; in the garment previewing tool, providingan option for the user to select a damage asset from a menu of damageassets including the first damage asset and the second damage asset;when the user selects the first damage asset, showing the first image aspart of a preview image of a garment being customized by the user; andwhen the user selects the second damage asset, showing the second imageas part of the preview image of a garment being customized by the user.

In an implementation, a method includes: assembling a garment made fromfabric panels of a woven first material including a warp includingindigo ring-dyed cotton yarn, where the fabric panels are sewn togetherusing thread; creating an image of a damage shape in a single color;storing the damage shape a damage asset laser file; based on the damageasset laser file, using a laser to form a hole in a second materialbased on the damage shape; washing the second material with the hole;capturing an image of the hole in the second material that correspondsto the damage shape; using the image of the hole in the second materialas a preview image of damage asset; allowing a user to select the damageasset using the preview image for use on the garment; using a laser tocreate the damage asset on an outer surface of the garment based on alaser input file including the damage shape, where based on the laserinput file, at a location specified for damage asset, the laser forms ahole in the first material in a shape corresponding the damage shape.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon consideration of the following detailed descriptionand the accompanying drawings, in which like reference designationsrepresent like features throughout the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system for creating, designing,producing apparel products with laser finishing.

FIG. 2 shows a flow for a finishing technique that includes the use of alaser.

FIG. 3 shows a weave pattern for a denim fabric.

FIGS. 4-7 show how the laser alters the color of ring-dyed yarn.

FIG. 8 shows a flow for finishing in two finishing steps and using basetemplates.

FIG. 9 shows multiple base templates and multiple resulting finishedproducts from each of these templates.

FIG. 10 shows a distributed computer network.

FIG. 11 shows a computer system that can be used in laser finishing.

FIG. 12 shows a system block diagram of the computer system.

FIGS. 13-14 show examples of mobile devices.

FIG. 15 shows a system block diagram of a mobile device.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a system for creating, designing,producing apparel products with laser finishing.

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of a specific implementation of a previewtool.

FIG. 18 shows a block diagram of a brief tool.

FIG. 19 shows a technique of generating a preview of a finished imageusing a brief tool.

FIG. 20 shows a laser pattern mask that is created from a laser inputfile.

FIG. 21 shows a base image hue saturation lightness adjustment (HSL)layer that is created from the base image.

FIG. 22 shows a technique of creating a masked solid color adjustmentlayer.

FIGS. 23-24 show examples of two different adjustments for bright point.

FIG. 25 shows adjustment of intensity.

FIG. 26 shows an array of images showing the effects of adjustments inbright point and intensity.

FIG. 27 shows a screen of a gender selection feature of the digitalbrief tool.

FIG. 28 shows a screen of a gender selection feature of the digitalbrief tool with the “Women's” option selected.

FIG. 29 shows a screen of a gender selection feature of the digitalbrief tool with the “Men's” option selected.

FIG. 30 shows a screen of a fit selection feature of the digital brieftool.

FIG. 31 shows a screen of a series selection feature of the digitalbrief tool.

FIG. 32 shows a screen of a shade selection feature of the digital brieftool.

FIG. 33 shows a screen of a shade selection feature of the digital brieftool.

FIG. 34 shows a screen including a digital brief image of the digitalbrief tool.

FIG. 35 shows a screen of a pattern or laser input file selectionfeature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 36 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization feature of thedigital brief tool.

FIG. 37 shows another screen of a laser pattern customization feature ofthe digital brief tool.

FIG. 38 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization adjustmentfeature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 39 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization intensityadjustment feature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 40 shows another screen of a laser pattern customization intensityadjustment feature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 41 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization bright pointadjustment feature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 42 shows another screen of a laser pattern customization brightpoint adjustment feature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 43 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization intensity andbright point adjustment feature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 44 shows a screen of a sharing feature of the digital brief tool.For example, a digital brief image reflects the currently selectedoptions.

FIG. 45 shows a screen of a current progress feature of the digitalbrief tool.

FIG. 46 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization intensity andbright point adjustment feature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 47 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization intensity andbright point adjustment feature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 48 shows a screen of a shade adjustment feature of the digitalbrief tool.

FIG. 49 shows another screen of a shade adjustment feature of thedigital brief tool.

FIG. 50 shows another screen of a shade adjustment feature of thedigital brief tool.

FIG. 51 shows another screen of a shade adjustment feature of thedigital brief tool.

FIG. 52 shows a screen of a tint adjustment feature of the digital brieftool.

FIG. 53 shows a screen of a damage selection feature of the digitalbrief tool.

FIG. 54 shows a screen of a damage feature applied onto apparel of thedigital brief tool.

FIG. 55 shows another screen of a sharing feature of the digital brieftool.

FIG. 56 shows another screen of a damage feature applied onto apparel ofthe digital brief tool.

FIG. 57 shows a screen when modifying a damage feature applied ontoapparel of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 58 shows a screen when adding more than one damage pattern with adamage feature of the digital brief tool.

FIG. 59 shows a technique of creating damage digital assets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a process flow 101 for manufacturing apparel such as jeans,where garments are finished using a laser. The fabric or material forvarious apparel including jeans is made from natural or synthetic fibers106, or a combination of these. A fabric mill takes fibers and processes109 these fibers to produce a laser-sensitive finished fabric 112, whichhas enhanced response characteristics for laser finishing.

Some examples of natural fibers include cotton, flax, hemp, sisal, jute,kenaf, and coconut; fibers from animal sources include silk, wool,cashmere, and mohair. Some examples of synthetic fibers includepolyester, nylon, spandex or elastane, and other polymers. Some examplesof semisynthetic fibers include rayon, viscose, modal, and lyocell,which are made from a regenerated cellulose fiber. A fabric can be anatural fiber alone (e.g., cotton), a synthetic fiber alone (e.g.,polyester alone), a blend of natural and synthetic fibers (e.g., cottonand polyester blend, or cotton and spandax), or a blend of natural andsemisynthetic fibers, or any combination of these or other fibers.

For jeans, the fabric is typically a denim, which is a sturdy cottonwarp-faced textile in which a weft passes under two or more warpthreads. This twill weaving produces a diagonal ribbing. The yarns(e.g., warp yarns) are dyed using an indigo or blue dye, which ischaracteristic of blue jeans.

Although this patent describes the apparel processing and finishing withrespect to jeans, the invention is not limited jeans or denim products,such as shirts, shorts, jackets, vests, and skirts. The techniques andapproaches described are applicable to other apparel and products,including nondenim products and products made from knit materials. Someexamples include T-shirts, sweaters, coats, sweatshirts (e.g., hoodies),casual wear, athletic wear, outerwear, dresses, evening wear, sleepwear,loungewear, underwear, socks, bags, backpacks, uniforms, umbrellas,swimwear, bed sheets, scarves, and many others.

A manufacturer creates a design 115 (design I) of its product. Thedesign can be for a particular type of clothing or garment (e.g., men'sor women's jean, or jacket), sizing of the garment (e.g., small, medium,or large, or waist size and inseam length), or other design feature. Thedesign can be specified by a pattern or cut used to form pieces of thepattern. A fabric is selected and patterned and cut 118 based on thedesign. The pattern pieces are assembled together 121 into the garment,typically by sewing, but can be joined together using other techniques(e.g., rivets, buttons, zipper, hoop and loop, adhesives, or othertechniques and structures to join fabrics and materials together).

Some garments can be complete after assembly and ready for sale.However, other garments are unfinished 122 and have additional finishing124, which includes laser finishing. The finishing may include tinting,washing, softening, and fixing. For distressed denim products, thefinishing can include using a laser to produce a wear pattern accordingto a design 127 (design II). Some additional details of laser finishingare described in U.S. patent application 62/377,447, filed Aug. 19,2016, and Ser. No. 15/682,507, filed Aug. 21, 2017, issued as U.S. Pat.No. 10,051,905 on Aug. 21, 2018, are incorporated by reference alongwith all other references cited in this application. U.S. patentapplications 62/636,108, filed Feb. 27, 2018, and 62/715,788, filed Aug.7, 2018, describe some specific implementations of a brief builderapplication and are incorporated by reference.

Design 127 is for post assembly aspects of a garment while design 115 isfor preassembly aspects of a garment. After finishing, a finishedproduct 130 (e.g., a pair of jeans) is complete and ready for sale. Thefinished product is inventoried and distributed 133, delivered to stores136, and sold to consumers or customers 139. The consumer can buy andwear worn blue jeans without having to wear out the jeans themselves,which usually takes significant time and effort.

Traditionally, to produce distressed denim products, finishingtechniques include dry abrasion, wet processing, oxidation, or othertechniques, or combinations of these, to accelerate wear of the materialin order to produce a desired wear pattern. Dry abrasion can includesandblasting or using sandpaper. For example, some portions or localizedareas of the fabric are sanded to abrade the fabric surface. Wetprocessing can include washing in water, washing with oxidizers (e.g.,bleach, peroxide, ozone, or potassium permanganate), spraying withoxidizers, washing with abrasives (e.g., pumice, stone, or grit).

These traditional finishing approaches take time, incur expense, andimpact the environment by utilizing resources and producing waste. It isdesirable to reduce water and chemical usage, which can includeeliminating the use agents such as potassium permanganate and pumice. Analternative to these traditional finishing approaches is laserfinishing.

FIG. 2 shows a finishing technique that includes the use of a laser 207.A laser is a device that emits light through a process of opticalamplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagneticradiation. Lasers are used for bar code scanning, medical proceduressuch as corrective eye surgery, and industrial applications such aswelding. A particular type of laser for finishing apparel is a carbondioxide laser, which emits a beam of infrared radiation.

The laser is controlled by an input file 210 and control software 213 toemit a laser beam onto fabric at a particular position or location at aspecific power level for a specific amount of time. Further, the powerof the laser beam can be varied according to a waveform such as a pulsewave with a particular frequency, period, pulse width, or othercharacteristic. Some aspects of the laser that can be controlled includethe duty cycle, frequency, marking or burning speed, and otherparameters.

The duty cycle is a percentage of laser emission time. Some examples ofduty cycle percentages include 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 80, and 100 percent.The frequency is the laser pulse frequency. A low frequency might be,for example, 5 kilohertz, while a high frequency might be, for example,25 kilohertz. Generally, lower frequencies will have higher surfacepenetration than high frequencies, which has less surface penetration.

The laser acts like a printer and “prints,” “marks,” or “burns” a wearpattern (specified by input file 210) onto the garment. The fabric thatis exposed to the laser beam (e.g., infrared beam) changes color,lightening the fabric at a specified position by a certain amount basedon the laser power, time of exposure, and waveform used. The lasercontinues from position to position until the wear pattern is completelyprinted on the garment.

In a specific implementation, the laser has a resolution of about 34dots per inch (dpi), which on the garment is about 0.7 millimeters perpixel. The technique described in this patent is not dependent on thelaser's resolution, and will work with lasers have more or lessresolution than 34 dots per inch. For example, the laser can have aresolution of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 72, 80, 96, 100, 120, 150,200, 300, or 600 dots per inch, or more or less than any of these orother values. Typically, the greater the resolution, the finer thefeatures that can be printed on the garment in a single pass. By usingmultiple passes (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, or more passes) with the laser, theeffective resolution can be increased. In an implementation, multiplelaser passes are used.

Jeans are dyed using an indigo dye, which results in a blue coloredfabric. The blue color is caused by chromophores trapped in the fabricwhich reflect light as a blue color. U.S. patent application 62/433,739,filed Dec. 13, 2016, which is incorporated by reference, describes adenim material with enhanced response characteristics to laserfinishing. Using a denim material made from indigo ring-dyed yarn,variations in highs and lows in indigo color shading is achieved byusing a laser.

FIG. 3 shows a weave pattern of a denim fabric 326. A loom does theweaving. In weaving, warp is the lengthwise or longitudinal yarn orthread in a roll, while weft or woof is the transverse thread. The weftyarn is drawn through the warp yarns to create the fabric. In FIG. 3,the warps extend in a first direction 335 (e.g., north and south) whilethe wefts extend in a direction 337 (e.g., east and west). The wefts areshown as a continuous yarn that zigzags across the wefts (e.g., carriedacross by a shuttle or a rapier of the loom). Alternatively, the weftscould be separate yarns. In some specific implementations, the warp yarnhas a different weight or thickness than the weft yarns. For example,warp yarns can be coarser than the weft yarns.

For denim, dyed yarn is used for the warp, and undyed or white yarn istypically used for the weft yarn. In some denim fabrics, the weft yarncan be dyed and have a color other than white, such as red. In the denimweave, the weft passes under two or more warp threads. FIG. 3 shows aweave with the weft passing under two warp threads. Specifically, thefabric weave is known as a 2×1 right-hand twill. For a right-hand twill,a direction of the diagonal is from a lower left to an upper right. Fora left-hand twill, a direction of the diagonal is from an lower right toan upper left. But in other denim weaves, the weft can pass under adifferent number of warp threads, such as 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more. Inother implementation, the denim is a 3×1 right-hand twill, which meansthe weft passes under three warp threads.

Because of the weave, one side of the fabric exposes more of the warpyarns (e.g., warp-faced side), while the other side exposes more of theweft yarns (e.g., weft-faced side). When the warp yarns are blue andweft yarns are white, a result of the weave is the warp-faced side willappear mostly blue while the reverse side, weft-faced side, will appearmostly white.

In denim, the warp is typically 100 percent cotton. But some warp yarnscan be a blend with, for example, elastane to allow for warp stretch.And some yarns for other fabrics may contain other fibers, such aspolyester or elastane as examples.

In an indigo ring-dyed yarn, the indigo does not fully penetrate to acore of the yarn. Rather, the indigo dye is applied at a surface of thecotton yarn and diffuses toward the interior of the yarn. So when theyarn is viewed cross-sectionally, the indigo dyed material will appearas a ring on around an outer edge of the yarn. The shading of the indigodye will generally lighten in a gradient as a distance increases fromthe surface of the yarn to the center (or core) of the yarn.

During laser finishing, the laser removes a selected amount of thesurface of the indigo dyed yarn (e.g., blue color) to reveal a lightercolor (e.g., white color) of the inner core of the ring-dyed yarn. Themore of the indigo dyed material that is removed, the lighter the color(e.g., lighter shade of blue). The more of the indigo dyed material thatremains, the darker the color (e.g., deeper shade of blue). The lasercan be controlled precisely to remove a desired amount of material toachieve a desired shade of blue in a desired place or position on thematerial.

With laser finishing, a finish can be applied (e.g., printed or burnedvia the laser) onto apparel (e.g., jeans and denim garments) that willappear similar to or indistinguishable from a finish obtained usingtraditional processing techniques (e.g., dry abrasion, wet processing,and oxidation). Laser finishing of apparel is less costly and is fasterthan traditional finishing techniques and also has reduced environmentalimpact (e.g., eliminating the use of harsh chemical agents and reducingwaste).

FIGS. 4-7 show how the laser alters the color of ring-dyed yarn. FIG. 4shows a laser beam 407 striking a ring-dyed yarn 413 having indigo-dyedfibers 418 and white core fibers 422. The laser removes the dyed fibers,which can be by vaporizing or otherwise destroying the cotton fiber viaheat or high temperature that the laser beam causes.

FIG. 5 shows the laser using a first power level setting or firstexposure time setting, or a combination of these, to remove some of thedyed fibers, but not revealing any of the white core fibers. The undyedfibers remain covered. There is no color change.

FIG. 6 shows the laser using a second power level setting or secondexposure time setting, or a combination of these, to remove more of thedyed fibers than in FIG. 5. The second power level is greater than thefirst power level, or the second exposure time setting is greater thanthe first exposure time setting, or a combination of these. The resultis some of the undyed fibers are revealed. There is a color change,subtle highlighting.

FIG. 7 shows the laser using a third power level setting or thirdexposure time setting, or a combination of these, to remove even more ofthe dyed fibers than in FIG. 6. The third power level is greater thanthe second power level, or the third exposure time setting is greaterthan the second exposure time setting, or a combination of these. Theresult is more of the undyed fibers are revealed. There is a colorchange, brighter highlighting.

As shown in FIG. 2, before laser 207, the fabric can be prepared 216 forthe laser, which may be referred to as a base preparation, and caninclude a prelaser wash. This step helps improves the results of thelaser. After the laser, there can be a postlaser wash 219. This wash canclean or remove any residue caused by the laser, such as removing anycharring (which would appear as brown or slightly burning). There can beadditional finish 221, which may be including tinting, softening, orfixing, to complete finishing.

FIG. 8 shows a technique where finishing 124 is divided into twofinishing steps, finishing I and finishing II. Finishing I 808 is aninitial finishing to create base templates 811. With finishing II 814,each base template can be used to manufacture multiple final finishes817.

FIG. 9 shows multiple base templates, base A, base B, and base C. Thesebase templates may be referred to as base fit fabrics or BFFs. In animplementation, the base templates can be created during base prep andprelaser wash 216 (see FIG. 2). During finishing I, by using differentwash 216 methods or recipes, each different base template can becreated.

Finishing II can include laser finishing. Base A is lasered withdifferent designs to obtain various final product based on base A (e.g.,FP(A)1 to FP(A)i, where i is an integer). Base B is lasered withdifferent designs to obtain various final product based on base B (e.g.,FP(B)1 to FP(B)j, where j is an integer). Base C is lasered withdifferent designs to obtain various final product based on base C (e.g.,FP(C)1 to FP(C)k, where k is an integer). Each base can be used toobtain a number of different final designs. For example, the integers i,j, and k can have different values.

As described above and shown in FIG. 2, after finishing II, there can beadditional finishing during post laser wash 219 and additional finishing221. For example, during the postlaser wash, there may be additionaltinting to the lasered garments. This tinting can result in an overallcolor cast to change the look of the garment.

In an implementation, laser finishing is used to create many differentfinishes (each a different product) easily and quickly from the samefabric template or BFF or “blank.” For each fabric, there will be anumber of base fit fabrics. These base fit fabrics are lasered toproduce many different finishes, each being a different product for aproduct line. Laser finishing allows greater efficiency because by usingfabric templates (or base fit fabrics), a single fabric or material canbe used to create many different products for a product line, more thanis possible with traditional processing. This reduces the inventory ofdifferent fabric and finish raw materials.

For a particular product (e.g., 511 product), there can be two differentfabrics, such as base B and base C of FIG. 9. The fabrics can be part ofa fabric tool kit. For base B, there are multiple base fit fabrics,FP(B)1, FP(B)2, and so forth. Using laser finishing, a base fit fabric(e.g., FP(B)1) can be used to product any number of different finishes(e.g., eight different finishes), each of which would be considered adifferent product model.

For example, FP(B)1 can be laser finished using different laser files(e.g., laser file 1, laser file 2, laser file 3, or others) or havedifferent postlaser wash (e.g., postlaser wash recipe 1, postlaser washrecipe 2, postlaser wash recipe 3, or others), or any combination ofthese. A first product would be base fit fabric FP(B)1 lasered usinglaser file 1 and washed using postlaser wash recipe 1. A second productwould be base fit fabric FP(B)1 lasered using laser file 2 and washedusing postlaser wash recipe 1. A third product would be base fit fabricFP(B)1 lasered using laser file 2 and washed using postlaser wash recipe2. And there can be many more products based on the same base fitfabric. Each can have a different product identifier or uniqueidentifier, such as a different PC9 or nine-digit product code.

With laser finishing, many products or PC9s are produced for each basefit fabric or blank. Compared to traditional processing, this is asignificant improvement in providing greater numbers of differentproducts with less different fabrics and finishes (each of which intraditional processing consume resources, increasing cost, and taketime). Inventory is reduced. The technique of providing base fitfinishes or fabric templates for laser finishing has significant andmany benefits.

A system incorporating laser finishing can include a computer to controlor monitor operation, or both. FIG. 10 shows an example of a computerthat is component of a laser finishing system. The computer may be aseparate unit that is connected to a system, or may be embedded inelectronics of the system. In an embodiment, the invention includessoftware that executes on a computer workstation system or server, suchas shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of a distributed computer network1000 incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. Computernetwork 1000 includes a number of client systems 1013, 1016, and 1019,and a server system 1022 coupled to a communication network 1024 via aplurality of communication links 1028. Communication network 1024provides a mechanism for allowing the various components of distributednetwork 1000 to communicate and exchange information with each other.

Communication network 1024 may itself be comprised of manyinterconnected computer systems and communication links. Communicationlinks 1028 may be hardwire links, optical links, satellite or otherwireless communications links, wave propagation links, or any othermechanisms for communication of information. Communication links 1028may be DSL, Cable, Ethernet or other hardwire links, passive or activeoptical links, 3G, 3.5G, 4G and other mobility, satellite or otherwireless communications links, wave propagation links, or any othermechanisms for communication of information.

Various communication protocols may be used to facilitate communicationbetween the various systems shown in FIG. 10. These communicationprotocols may include VLAN, MPLS, TCP/IP, Tunneling, HTTP protocols,wireless application protocol (WAP), vendor-specific protocols,customized protocols, and others. While in one embodiment, communicationnetwork 1024 is the Internet, in other embodiments, communicationnetwork 1024 may be any suitable communication network including a localarea network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, anintranet, a private network, a public network, a switched network, andcombinations of these, and the like.

Distributed computer network 1000 in FIG. 10 is merely illustrative ofan embodiment incorporating the present invention and does not limit thescope of the invention as recited in the claims. One of ordinary skillin the art would recognize other variations, modifications, andalternatives. For example, more than one server system 1022 may beconnected to communication network 1024. As another example, a number ofclient systems 1013, 1016, and 1019 may be coupled to communicationnetwork 1024 via an access provider (not shown) or via some other serversystem.

Client systems 1013, 1016, and 1019 typically request information from aserver system which provides the information. For this reason, serversystems typically have more computing and storage capacity than clientsystems. However, a particular computer system may act as both as aclient or a server depending on whether the computer system isrequesting or providing information. Additionally, although aspects ofthe invention have been described using a client-server environment, itshould be apparent that the invention may also be embodied in astandalone computer system.

Server 1022 is responsible for receiving information requests fromclient systems 1013, 1016, and 1019, performing processing required tosatisfy the requests, and for forwarding the results corresponding tothe requests back to the requesting client system. The processingrequired to satisfy the request may be performed by server system 1022or may alternatively be delegated to other servers connected tocommunication network 1024.

Client systems 1013, 1016, and 1019 enable users to access and queryinformation stored by server system 1022. In a specific embodiment, theclient systems can run as a standalone application such as a desktopapplication or mobile smartphone or tablet application. In anotherembodiment, a “Web browser” application executing on a client systemenables users to select, access, retrieve, or query information storedby server system 1022. Examples of Web browsers include the InternetExplorer browser program provided by Microsoft Corporation, Firefoxbrowser provided by Mozilla, Chrome browser provided by Google, Safaribrowser provided by Apple, and others.

In a client-server environment, some resources (e.g., files, music,video, or data) are stored at the client while others are stored ordelivered from elsewhere in the network, such as a server, andaccessible via the network (e.g., the Internet). Therefore, the user'sdata can be stored in the network or “cloud.” For example, the user canwork on documents on a client device that are stored remotely on thecloud (e.g., server). Data on the client device can be synchronized withthe cloud.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary client or server system of the presentinvention. In an embodiment, a user interfaces with the system through acomputer workstation system, such as shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows acomputer system 1101 that includes a monitor 1103, screen 1105,enclosure 1107 (may also be referred to as a system unit, cabinet, orcase), keyboard or other human input device 1109, and mouse or otherpointing device 1111. Mouse 1111 may have one or more buttons such asmouse buttons 1113.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited anycomputing device in a specific form factor (e.g., desktop computer formfactor), but can include all types of computing devices in various formfactors. A user can interface with any computing device, includingsmartphones, personal computers, laptops, electronic tablet devices,global positioning system (GPS) receivers, portable media players,personal digital assistants (PDAs), other network access devices, andother processing devices capable of receiving or transmitting data.

For example, in a specific implementation, the client device can be asmartphone or tablet device, such as the Apple iPhone (e.g., AppleiPhone 6), Apple iPad (e.g., Apple iPad, Apple iPad Pro, or Apple iPadmini), Apple iPod (e.g, Apple iPod Touch), Samsung Galaxy product (e.g.,Galaxy S series product or Galaxy Note series product), Google Nexus andPixel devices (e.g., Google Nexus 6, Google Nexus 7, or Google Nexus 9),and Microsoft devices (e.g., Microsoft Surface tablet). Typically, asmartphone includes a telephony portion (and associated radios) and acomputer portion, which are accessible via a touch screen display.

There is nonvolatile memory to store data of the telephone portion(e.g., contacts and phone numbers) and the computer portion (e.g.,application programs including a browser, pictures, games, videos, andmusic). The smartphone typically includes a camera (e.g., front facingcamera or rear camera, or both) for taking pictures and video. Forexample, a smartphone or tablet can be used to take live video that canbe streamed to one or more other devices.

Enclosure 1107 houses familiar computer components, some of which arenot shown, such as a processor, memory, mass storage devices 1117, andthe like. Mass storage devices 1117 may include mass disk drives, floppydisks, magnetic disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, fixeddisks, hard disks, CD-ROMs, recordable CDs, DVDs, recordable DVDs (e.g.,DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, HD-DVD, or Blu-ray Disc), flash and othernonvolatile solid-state storage (e.g., USB flash drive or solid statedrive (SSD)), battery-backed-up volatile memory, tape storage, reader,and other similar media, and combinations of these.

A computer-implemented or computer-executable version or computerprogram product of the invention may be embodied using, stored on, orassociated with computer-readable medium. A computer-readable medium mayinclude any medium that participates in providing instructions to one ormore processors for execution. Such a medium may take many formsincluding, but not limited to, nonvolatile, volatile, and transmissionmedia. Nonvolatile media includes, for example, flash memory, or opticalor magnetic disks. Volatile media includes static or dynamic memory,such as cache memory or RAM. Transmission media includes coaxial cables,copper wire, fiber optic lines, and wires arranged in a bus.Transmission media can also take the form of electromagnetic, radiofrequency, acoustic, or light waves, such as those generated duringradio wave and infrared data communications.

For example, a binary, machine-executable version, of the software ofthe present invention may be stored or reside in RAM or cache memory, oron mass storage device 1117. The source code of the software of thepresent invention may also be stored or reside on mass storage device1117 (e.g., hard disk, magnetic disk, tape, or CD-ROM). As a furtherexample, code of the invention may be transmitted via wires, radiowaves, or through a network such as the Internet.

FIG. 12 shows a system block diagram of computer system 1101 used toexecute the software of the present invention. As in FIG. 11, computersystem 1101 includes monitor 1103, keyboard 1109, and mass storagedevices 1117. Computer system 1101 further includes subsystems such ascentral processor 1202, system memory 1204, input/output (I/O)controller 1206, display adapter 1208, serial or universal serial bus(USB) port 1212, network interface 1218, and speaker 1220. The inventionmay also be used with computer systems with additional or fewersubsystems. For example, a computer system could include more than oneprocessor 1202 (i.e., a multiprocessor system) or a system may include acache memory.

Arrows such as 1222 represent the system bus architecture of computersystem 1101. However, these arrows are illustrative of anyinterconnection scheme serving to link the subsystems. For example,speaker 1220 could be connected to the other subsystems through a portor have an internal direct connection to central processor 1202. Theprocessor may include multiple processors or a multicore processor,which may permit parallel processing of information. Computer system1101 shown in FIG. 12 is but an example of a computer system suitablefor use with the present invention. Other configurations of subsystemssuitable for use with the present invention will be readily apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art.

Computer software products may be written in any of various suitableprogramming languages, such as C, C++, C#, Pascal, Fortran, Perl, Matlab(from MathWorks, www.mathworks.com), SAS, SPSS, JavaScript, AJAX, Java,Python, Erlang, and Ruby on Rails. The computer software product may bean independent application with data input and data display modules.Alternatively, the computer software products may be classes that may beinstantiated as distributed objects. The computer software products mayalso be component software such as Java Beans (from Oracle Corporation)or Enterprise Java Beans (EJB from Oracle Corporation).

An operating system for the system may be one of the Microsoft Windows®family of systems (e.g., Windows 95, 98, Me, Windows NT, Windows 2000,Windows XP, Windows XP x64 Edition, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8,Windows 10, Windows CE, Windows Mobile, Windows RT), Symbian OS, Tizen,Linux, HP-UX, UNIX, Sun OS, Solaris, Mac OS X, Apple iOS, Android, AlphaOS, AIX, IRIX32, or IRIX64. Other operating systems may be used.Microsoft Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Any trademarks or service marks used in this patent are property oftheir respective owner. Any company, product, or service names in thispatent are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos,and brands does not imply endorsement.

Furthermore, the computer may be connected to a network and mayinterface to other computers using this network. The network may be anintranet, internet, or the Internet, among others. The network may be awired network (e.g., using copper), telephone network, packet network,an optical network (e.g., using optical fiber), or a wireless network,or any combination of these. For example, data and other information maybe passed between the computer and components (or steps) of a system ofthe invention using a wireless network using a protocol such as Wi-Fi(IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11i,802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ad, just to name a few examples), nearfield communication (NFC), radio-frequency identification (RFID), mobileor cellular wireless (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G, 3GPP LTE, WiMAX, LTE, LTEAdvanced, Flash-OFDM, HIPERMAN, iBurst, EDGE Evolution, UMTS, UMTS-TDD,1×RDD, and EV-DO). For example, signals from a computer may betransferred, at least in part, wirelessly to components or othercomputers.

In an embodiment, with a Web browser executing on a computer workstationsystem, a user accesses a system on the World Wide Web (WWW) through anetwork such as the Internet. The Web browser is used to download Webpages or other content in various formats including HTML, XML, text,PDF, and postscript, and may be used to upload information to otherparts of the system. The Web browser may use uniform resourceidentifiers (URLs) to identify resources on the Web and hypertexttransfer protocol (HTTP) in transferring files on the Web.

In other implementations, the user accesses the system through either orboth of native and nonnative applications. Native applications arelocally installed on the particular computing system and are specific tothe operating system or one or more hardware devices of that computingsystem, or a combination of these. These applications (which aresometimes also referred to as “apps”) can be updated (e.g.,periodically) via a direct internet upgrade patching mechanism orthrough an applications store (e.g., Apple iTunes and App store, GooglePlay store, Windows Phone store, and Blackberry App World store).

The system can run in platform-independent, nonnative applications. Forexample, client can access the system through a Web application from oneor more servers using a network connection with the server or serversand load the Web application in a Web browser. For example, a Webapplication can be downloaded from an application server over theInternet by a Web browser. Nonnative applications can also be obtainedfrom other sources, such as a disk.

FIGS. 13-14 show examples of mobile devices, which can be mobileclients. Mobile devices are specific implementations of a computer, suchas described above. FIG. 13 shows a smartphone device 1301, and FIG. 14shows a tablet device 1401. Some examples of smartphones include theApple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Nexus family of devices. Someexamples of tablet devices include the Apple iPad, Apple iPad Pro,Samsung Galaxy Tab, and Google Nexus family of devices.

Smartphone 1301 has an enclosure that includes a screen 1303, button1309, speaker 1311, camera 1313, and proximity sensor 1335. The screencan be a touch screen that detects and accepts input from finger touchor a stylus. The technology of the touch screen can be a resistive,capacitive, infrared grid, optical imaging, or pressure-sensitive,dispersive signal, acoustic pulse recognition, or others. The touchscreen is screen and a user input device interface that acts as a mouseand keyboard of a computer.

Button 1309 is sometimes referred to as a home button and is used toexit a program and return the user to the home screen. The phone mayalso include other buttons (not shown) such as volume buttons and on-offbutton on a side. The proximity detector can detect a user's face isclose to the phone, and can disable the phone screen and its touchsensor, so that there will be no false inputs from the user's face beingnext to screen when talking.

Tablet 1401 is similar to a smartphone. Tablet 1401 has an enclosurethat includes a screen 1403, button 1409, and camera 1413. Typically thescreen (e.g., touch screen) of a tablet is larger than a smartphone,usually 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, or more inches (measured diagonally).

FIG. 15 shows a system block diagram of mobile device 1501 used toexecute the software of the present invention. This block diagram isrepresentative of the components of smartphone or tablet device. Themobile device system includes a screen 1503 (e.g., touch screen),buttons 1509, speaker 1511, camera 1513, motion sensor 1515, lightsensor 1517, microphone 1519, indicator light 1521, and external port1523 (e.g., USB port or Apple Lightning port). These components cancommunicate with each other via a bus 1525.

The system includes wireless components such as a mobile networkconnection 1527 (e.g., mobile telephone or mobile data), Wi-Fi 1529,Bluetooth 1531, GPS 1533 (e.g., detect GPS positioning), other sensors1535 such as a proximity sensor, CPU 1537, RAM memory 1539, storage 1541(e.g. nonvolatile memory), and battery 1543 (lithium ion or lithiumpolymer cell). The battery supplies power to the electronic componentsand is rechargeable, which allows the system to be mobile.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a system for creating, designing,producing apparel products with laser finishing. A box line plan 1602 isan internal and interim tool for communication between a merchandisinggroup and design group. Through the box line plan, merchandising cancommunicate what needs to be designed by the design group. The box lineplan can have open slots to be designed 1609.

There is a digital design tool 1616 merchants and design can use toclick and drag finish effects (e.g., laser files) and tint casts overimages of base washes in order to visualize possible combinations andbuild the line visually before the garment finish is actually finishedby the laser. The visualizations can be by rendering on a computersystem, such as using three-dimensional (3D) graphics.

U.S. patent application 62/433,746, filed Dec. 13, 2016, which isincorporated by reference, describes a system and operating model ofapparel manufacture with laser finishing. Laser finishing of apparelproducts allows an operating model that reduces finishing cost, lowerscarrying costs, increases productivity, shortens time to market, be morereactive to trends, reduce product constraints, reduces lost sales anddilution, and more. Improved aspects include design, development,planning, merchandising, selling, making, and delivering. The model usesfabric templates, each of which can be used be produce a multitude oflaser finishes. Operational efficiency is improved.

Designers can use the digital design tool to design products that areused to satisfy the requests in open slots 1609. Designs created usingthe digital design tool can be stored in a digital library 1622. Inputto the digital design tool include fabric templates or blanks 1627(e.g., base fit fabrics or BFFs), existing finishes 1633 (e.g., can befurther modified by the tool 1616), and new finishes 1638. New finishescan be from designs 1641 (e.g., vintage design) captured using a laserfinish software tool 1645, examples of which are described in U.S.patent application 62/377,447, filed Aug. 19, 2016, and Ser. No.15/682,507, filed Aug. 21, 2017. Digital library 1622 can be accessibleby the region assorting and sell-in 1650. And the digital library can beused populate or satisfy the box line plan.

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of a specific implementation of a digitaldesign tool, a preview tool 1703. Digital design tool 1616 can berepresentative of a collection of tools, such as an application suite,including desktop or mobile apps, or a combination.

Preview tool 1703 can be a single tool in a toolbox or toolkit used forlaser finishing of garments, or the tool can be incorporated as afeature of another tool. The preview tool allows a user such as aclothing designer to preview on a computer screen or to generate adigital representation (e.g., image file, JPEG file, BMP file, TIFFfile, GIF file, PNG file, PSD file, or others) of jeans in a selectedbase fit fabric or fabric template 1706 with a selected laser pattern1709 (e.g., from a laser input file). With the digital representation,the user will be able to see or preview the jeans in the selected basefit fabric as if it had been burned with the selected laser input file,without needing to actually laser or burn the jeans.

Some files are described as being of an image file type. Some examplesof image file types or file formats include bitmap or raster graphicsformats including IMG, TIFF, EXIF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PBM, PGM, PPM, BMP,and RAW. The compression for the file can be lossless (e.g., TIFF) orlossy (e.g., JPEG). Other image file types or file formats includevector graphics including DXF, SVG, and the like.

Bitmaps or raster graphics are resolution dependent while vectorgraphics are resolution independent. Raster graphics generally cannotscale up to an arbitrary resolution without loss of apparent quality.This property contrasts with the capabilities of vector graphics, whichgenerally easily scale up to the quality of the device rendering them.

A raster graphics image is a dot matrix data structure representing agenerally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via amonitor, paper, or other display medium. A bitmap, such as a single-bitraster, corresponds bit-for-bit with an image displayed on a screen oroutput medium. A raster is characterized by the width and height of theimage in pixels and by the number of bits per pixel (or color depth,which determines the number of colors it can represent).

The BMP file format is an example of a bitmap. The BMP file format, alsoknown as bitmap image file or device independent bitmap (DIB) fileformat or simply a bitmap, is a raster graphics image file format usedto store bitmap digital images, independently of the display device. TheBMP file format is capable of storing two-dimensional digital images ofarbitrary width, height, and resolution, both monochrome and color, invarious color depths, and optionally with data compression, alphachannels, and color profiles.

The fabric template can be selected from a library of fabric templateimages 1716 or may be a new image uploaded or provided by the user. Eachfabric template images is an image file of a jeans in a base fit fabricor other material. For each jeans model or fit (e.g., models or fits311, 501, 505, 511, 515, 541, 569, 721, and others), there would be oneimage in each different material or base fit fabric.

The laser input file can be selected from a library of laser input files1722 (e.g., files created from vintage jeans or from a group ofdesigners), may be a file 1718 created by the user, or may be a fileuploaded or provided by the user. For example, the user may have createdthe laser pattern (contained within a laser input file) manually using agraphical or image editing tool (e.g., Adobe Photoshop and similar photoediting programs). Or the laser pattern may have been created byanother, such as selected from a library of laser files. The laserpattern may be generated by a computer or automated process, such as maybe used to obtain a laser pattern from vintage jeans. The user will beable to see the results of a burn, make any manual changes oralterations to the pattern (such as additional changes to a vintage jeanpattern in a digital image file) and preview the results again. Thepreview tool allows a user to make and see changes, to the user canobtain feedback faster than having to laser jeans to see the results andalso avoiding unneeded waste (e.g., preliminary versions of burnedjeans).

Each digital representation can be saved in a separate images, and agroup or set of the images can be a called brief of collection of jeans.The preview tool can be used for merchandising, such as generatingimages of a proposed line of products for a particular season, and theseimages can be shared among members of a team to discuss any additions,changes, or deletions to a collection.

A table below presents a pseudocode computer program listing of samplesoftware code for a specific implementation of a preview tool 1703 fordisplaying finished apparel 1711 for a given fabric template input(e.g., base fit fabric image) and laser input file. A specificimplementation of the source code may be written in a programminglanguage such as Python. Other programming languages can be used.

TABLE PREVIEW PATTERN TOOL SETUP: file selection object GET: input filefrom user selection ASSIGN: default blur options for high and lowsettings ASSIGN: input and conversion dpi settings FUNCTION: Import File(File List, File Index):  IMPORT: file being previewed  COMPUTE AND SET:resolution conversion factor  CALCULATE: optional resized image for useduring preview  RETURN: input file and resized input file RUN: ImportFile (File List, File Index) CREATE: plotting object to display resultsto user SETUP: custom colors for preview options ASSIGN: color and colorseparation variables SETUP: graphical user interface interactionsbuttons, sliders, etc. FUNCTION: Update (Value):  READ: current displaysettings  CHECK: which user interactions are being changed  ASSIGN:operation variable value  PERFORM: user specified operation  REDRAW:plot of image preview to user FUNCTION: Reset (Event):  RESET: alldefault settings for image preview FUNCTION: Change Color (color):  SET:color of base color for preview  REDRAW: plot of image preview to userPLOT: current state of file object

A specific version of the preview tool overlays a fabric template inputfile and a laser input file, and then generates an image to display themtogether as a representation of the laser-finished apparel. The laserinput file is aligned to the garment in the fabric template input file,so that the positioning of features in the laser input file and atappropriate positions or places on the garment. The alignment may be byusing alignment marks that are in the input files. The alignment may bean automated alignment or scaling, or a combination.

Brightness, intensity, opacity, blending, transparency, or otheradjustable parameters for an image layer, or any combination of these,are selected or adjusted for the laser input file, so that when thelaser input file is overlaid above the fabric template image, the lookof the garment will appear of simulate the look of a garment had beenburned by a laser using that laser input file.

Adjustable parameters such as opacity can be used to blend two or moreimage layers together. For example, a layer's overall opacity determinesto what degree it obscures or reveals the layer beneath it. For example,a layer with 1 percent opacity appears nearly transparent, while onewith 100 percent opacity appears completely opaque.

Further, a dots per inch (dpi) of the combined image can be adjusted toalso more properly simulate the look of a garment more closely with aburned garment. Dots per inch refers to the number of dots in a printedinch. The more dots, the higher the quality of the print (e.g., moresharpness and detail). By reducing the dpi of the image, this willreduce the image quality, resulting a blurring of the image. In animplementation, the preview tool reduces a dpi of the combined image, tobe of less dpi than the fabric template input file or the laser inputfile. By blurring the preview image, this results in improved simulationthat corresponds better to a burned laser garment. When burning agarment, the garment material or fabric typically limits the resolutionof the result to less than that of the input file.

In an implementation, the dpi of the laser input file is about 72 dpi,while the dpi of the preview image is about 34 dpi. In animplementation, the dpi of the fabric template input file and laserinput file are about 36 dpi or above, while the dpi of the preview imageis about 36 dpi or lower.

FIG. 18 shows a block diagram of a digital brief tool 1803, which alsolike preview tool 1703, provides a real-time preview of an appearance ofpair of jeans when a finishing pattern is applied by burning using alaser input file. The digital brief tool has additional features toallow more flexible designing of jeans.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific flows and steps presented. A flow of the invention may haveadditional steps (not necessarily described in this patent), differentsteps which replace some of the steps presented, fewer steps or a subsetof the steps presented, or steps in a different order than presented, orany combination of these. Further, the steps in other implementations ofthe invention may not be exactly the same as the steps presented and maybe modified or altered as appropriate for a particular application orbased on the data or situation.

The digital brief tool takes as input three types of digital assets1805, fabric template input 1816, damage input 1819, and laser inputfile 1822. Fabric template input 1816 and laser input file 1822 aresimilar to the inputs for the preview tool. Damage input 1819 is animage of damage (e.g., holes, rips, shredded regions, or openings ofvarious shapes and sizes) that can be burned by a laser into jeans. Thedigital brief tool overlays the damage and laser input files over thefabric template.

The user selects a fabric template input, which an image of a jeansstyle in a particular base fit fabric. The user can optionally selectone or more damage inputs. If a damage input is selected, the damageinput will be a layer that overlays the fabric template layer. As forthe preview tool, the user selects a laser input file with laser patternand overlays the fabric template layer. As the user selects the inputs,the user will be able to see in real time the inputs and any changes orupdates in a preview image or brief.

After the inputs are selected, the user can select and perform one ormore operations 1826 on the inputs using the digital brief tool. Theseoperations including adding tint 1831, adjusting intensity 1834,adjusting bright point 1837, move digital asset 1842, rotate digitalasset 1845, scale digital asset 1848, and warp digital asset 1852. Asthe user selects and performs one or more operations, the user will beable to see in real time the changes or updates in the preview image orbrief.

After the fabric template input, the user can add tinting 1831. Tintingwill adjust the hue of the color of the fabric template input. Tintingis representative of the tinting which can be added during the postlaserwash or finishing II, described above. The user will be able to select atint color, and this tint color will be blended with the existing colorof the fabric template input. The amount or intensity of the tinting canbe increased or decreased, such as by using a slider bar.

The user can adjust intensity 1834. In an implementation, intensityadjusts a weight matrix by a percentage of each value in the array. Inan implementation, intensity (or brightness) adjusts an opacity of agenerated adjustment layer (see hue saturation lightness adjustmentlayer described below). The greater the opacity, the more opaque thislayer will appear in the preview or brief image. The less the opacity,the less opaque this layer will appear in the preview or brief image;the layer will appear more transparent so that the layer beneath willshow through more.

When increasing brightness, the opacity of the adjustment layerincreases, and since the adjustment layer is above the fabric templateinput, the generated adjustment layer will become more prominent orvisible, thus making this layer (which has the wear pattern) brighter.Similarly, when decreasing brightness, the opacity of the adjustmentlayer decreases, the generated adjustment layer will become lessprominent or visible, thus making this layer (which has the wearpattern) less bright or fainter. The amount of the intensity can beincreased or decreased, such as by using a slider bar.

The user can adjust bright point 1837. Bright point adjusts the effectof the laser input file on the fabric template input. In animplementation, bright point adjustment changes a midpoint of agrayscale, creating a piecewise linear mapping of the pattern file.

Increasing the bright point will increase an effect of the laser pattern(e.g., causing greater laser pattern highlights) in the laser input fileon the fabric template input, while decreasing the bright point does theopposite (e.g., diminishing laser pattern highlights). The bright pointadjustment can be analogous to changing a pixel time or the time thatthe laser stays at a particular position for a given input from thelaser input file. The amount of the bright point can be increased ordecreased, such as by using a slider bar.

The user can move 1842 or reposition a selected digital asset. Forexample, a damage input (or fabric template or laser file) may be movedto a position desired by the user. The user can rotate 1845 a selecteddigital asset. For example, a damage input (or fabric template or laserfile) may be rotated to any angle relative to the other layers asdesired by the user.

The user can scale 1848 a selected digital asset. This scaling can belocked, maintaining the original aspect ratio of the digital asset, orcan be unlocked, such that the user can change the aspect ratio. Theuser can warp 1852 a selected digital asset. With warping, the user canadjust an aspect ratio of a portion of the digital asset differentlyfrom another portion. For example, one portion of a damage input (orfabric template or laser file) can be squished (e.g., right and leftedges of image pushed toward each other) while another portion isexpanded (e.g., right and left edges of image pulled away from eachother).

After the user has performed selected operations 1826, the digital brieftool shows an image of the jeans with the laser finishing pattern,including any tinting, damage, or other adjustments, as created by theuser. This image can be saved and viewed again later. A user can createmultiple designs, and these can be saved together as part of acollection.

FIG. 19 shows a technique of generating a preview of a finished imageusing a digital brief tool. A base image (or fabric template input) isselected. A hue saturation lightness (HSL) adjustment layer is createdor generated for the selected base image. The HSL adjustment layer canbe the base layer with an adjustment for hue saturation lightness. Whentinting is selected, a solid color adjustment layer is created orgenerated. The solid color adjustment layer has a solid color (e.g.,yellow, green, red, blue, or other color that is used for tinting thegarment) that is in the same form or outline as the garment (e.g.,pants), as indicated by the dotted lines in the figure.

To obtain a final result, which is the final image of the jeans withlaser finishing pattern, a laser pattern mask is combined with the baseimage and HSL adjustment layer. A resulting combination will be based onintensity and bright point settings.

The laser pattern mask is a negative image or reverse image of the laserinput file. For the laser input file, during laser burning, a whitepixel means the pixel is not lasered (which results in the originalindigo color of the fabric), and a black pixel means the pixel will belasered at highest level (which results in the whitest color that can beachieved on the fabric). In an implementation, the laser input file has256 levels of gray, and for levels between 0 (e.g., black) and 255(e.g., white), then the amount of laser burning will be proportionallysomewhere in between.

FIG. 20 shows a laser pattern mask that is created from a laser inputfile. The digital brief tool creates the laser pattern mask from thelaser input file by reversing or inversing the laser input file. So, forthe laser pattern mask, a black pixel means the pixel is not lasered(which results in the original indigo color of the fabric), and a whitepixel means the pixel will be lasered at highest level (which results inthe whitest color that can be achieved on the fabric).

In an implementation, the laser pattern mask is obtained by invertingthe laser pattern in the laser input file and also normalizing, whichallows easier use. The laser image has values in a range from 0-255. Fornormalization, the range is changed to a value between 0 and 1, where255 is a 1 and 0 is a 0. This becomes a “filter value” or pattern maskvalue. A reason for this it makes it easier to apply the filter. Anequation to find the final pixel value can be simply:Final Pixel Value=(BrightenedPHOTO*filter value)+(BasePHOTO*(1−filtervalue)).

Using this approach, the resulting pixels value with be a value between0 and 255 with actual values corresponding to an appropriate mix of thetwo photos based on the laser pattern. Note that this does make a linearassumption about the transition be 0 and max change. But for a higheraccuracy method, the technique can query the filter unnormalized andapply the transition on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

To determine a final pixel value for a pixel of a preview image (seeequation above), a first contribution for the pixel location is obtainedby combining (e.g., multiplying) a color value for pixel correspondingto the pixel location for the pattern mask and a color value of a pixelcorresponding to the pixel location for a base image (e.g., filter valueor pattern mask value). A second contribution is obtained by combining(e.g., multiplying) a color value for a pixel corresponding to the pixellocation for the pattern mask and a color value for a pixelcorresponding to the pixel location for the adjusted base image (e.g., 1minus the filter value or 100 minus the filter value, if percentages areused). The first and second contributions are combined or added togetherto obtain the final pixel value for the preview image.

The first contribution contributes a first percentage of the base imagethat passes to the preview image. The second contribution contributes asecond percentage of the base image that passes to the preview image.The first and second percentages sums to 100.

FIG. 21 shows a HLS adjustment layer that is created from the baseimage. The HLS adjustment layer (or adjustment layer) is like ableaching layer, which is an image of what the jeans would appear likeif the jeans were fully bleached or lasered. This layer is created bytaking the base image and adjusting its hue, saturation, and lightness.In an implementation, for this layer, the saturation is reduced comparedto the base layer, and the lightness is increased compared to the baselayer. And the hue is not adjusted compared to the base layer. Adjustingall values, hue, saturation, and lightness, can ensure that thetechnique gets as close to reality as possible. However, often times thelightness value dominates, but any minor shifts in hue and saturationcan help improve simulating or replicating reality.

In an implementation, the HLS adjustment layer it obtained by modifyingthe base image by the maximum change in lightness and saturation thatavailable. In another implementation, for possibly higher accuracy, theguide comes from a laser mapping. For example, when you laser thisgarment with gray value 42 the lightness or L value changes by x, thehue or H value changes by y, and the saturation or S value changes by z.A technique uses whatever the mapping says and adheres to that mappingwhen converting the image. If direct access to that value is notavailable, interpolation can be used. For example, if there is a changefor a gray value 40 and a gray value 50, a technique changes for grayvalue 42, taking 20 percent of the change from 40 to 50 and use thatvalue for 42. Similar logic can apply in a simplified max changeapproach except in that case, a technique only needs to consider thechange at 0 gray value.

The HLS adjustment layer can be generated by using an image manipulationpackage such as OpenCV for changing color spaces. But in otherimplementations, a technique can convert manually using a RGB to HSLconversion algorithm.

A technique of the digital brief tool is to combine the base image andadjustment layer based on the laser pattern mask. For a black pixel inthe laser pattern mask, the base layer will fully pass (and none of theadjustment layer) through to the final result image. For a white pixelin the laser pattern mask, the adjustment layer (and none of the baselayer) will fully pass through to the final result image. For gray pixelvalues, then a percentage of the base layer and adjustment layer willpass through to the final result image. For example, for a value in thelayer pattern mask, 90 percent of the base layer and 10 percent of theadjustment layer pass through to the final result image.

FIG. 22 shows a technique of creating a masked solid color adjustmentlayer. The digital brief tool creates the solid color adjustment layerby creating a layer of a solid color, mask this layer based on the baseimage, and then create masked solid color adjustment layer. An opacityof the masked solid color adjustment layer can be reduced, so that whencombined with the based image, the base image will pass through withsome tinting contributed by the masked solid color adjustment layer.

In this figure, in a leftmost box labeled solid color adjustment layerhas a solid color in the desired tint. The solid tint color can be, forexample, yellow color, red color, brown color, black color, green color,purple color, pink color, or other colors or shades. In a middle boxlabeled solid color adjustment layer masked, the solid tint color hasbeen masked by a mask of the garment. This layer has same solid color asin the leftmost box but has the same form or outline as the garment(e.g., pants), as indicated by the dotted lines. Further, in a rightmostbox labeled solid color adjustment layer masked opacity reduced, anopacity of the previous layer (middle box) is reduced. The layer in therightmost box can be used in the process to create the preview image.

FIGS. 23-24 show examples of two different adjustments or settings for abright point operation. Adjusting bright point adjusts a rate oftransition from middle gray to white on the layer mask.

FIG. 25 shows adjustment of intensity. The intensity adjustment adjustsan opacity (e.g., 40 percent to 100 percent) of an HSL adjustment layer.At 100 percent, the HSL adjustment layer will be fully opaque, and thewear pattern will be very prominent in the brief image or preview.

FIG. 26 shows an array of images showing the effects of adjustments inbright point and intensity. Intensity changes are shown in the X or rowdirection, while bright point changes are shown in the Y or columndirection.

For a first jeans in the first column (from a left of the array), thirdrow (from a top of the array), the bright point and intensity are bothL, indicating the least amount of bright point and intensity. A secondjeans is in the second column, third row; this jeans has a bright pointof L and an intensity between L and H. The wear pattern of the secondjeans is more visible than that for the third jeans. A third jeans is inthe third column, third row; this jeans has a bright point of L and anintensity of H, indicating the greatest amount of intensity. The wearpattern of the third jeans is more visible than that for the secondjeans.

A fourth jeans is in the third column, second row; this jeans has abright point between L and H, and an intensity of H. The size or area ofthe wear pattern of the fourth jeans is larger than that for the thirdjeans. A fifth jeans is in the third column, first row; this jeans has abright point of H and an intensity of H. The size or area of the wearpattern of the fifth jeans is larger than that for the fourth jeans.

Digital Brief Tool Screens

FIG. 27-58 include screens of a digital brief tool, executing on AppleInc.'s iPad Pro tablet computer device. Although the screens portray thedigital brief tool as executing on an iPad Pro, other suitableelectronic devices may execute the digital brief tool. For example, thedigital brief tool may execute on a Windows device (e.g., Windows 10tablet), an Android device, other iPad product family models (e.g., iPador iPad mini), or many other devices.

The iPad Pro 12.9 is a tablet device with rectangular dimensions of 12inches by 8.68 inch, and is 0.27 inches thick. The iPad Pro has a12.9-inch screen, and has nonvolatile memory storage of 64, 256, or 512gigabytes. The iPad Pro has network connectivity via Wi-Fi andoptionally cellular. The iPad Pro has an A10X Fusion chip with 64-bitarchitecture and an embedded M10 coprocessor. Some features of thedigital brief tool can be accelerated by using specialized featuresavailable in the A10X Fusion chip or embedded M10 coprocessor, or both.An operating system of the iPad Pro is Apple iOS 11 (or greater whenreleased). Further, the iPad Pro can be operated with a stylus, theApple Pencil product. And in an implementation, the use can use theApple Pencil with the digital brief tool.

The digital brief tool includes various features, allowing a designer toselect, create, and visualize how an apparel item will look with certaincharacteristics, before the apparel item is produced. The digital brieftool may allow the designer, for one or more characteristics of aproposed apparel item, to assign one or more options to each of thecharacteristics. While assigning the options for characteristics, thedigital brief tool allows the designer to see, based on currentlyassigned options, how the apparel item may appear when produced, in realtime as changes are made.

Selecting gender, series, fit, fabric, or other characteristics in thedigital brief tool may result in having only relevant options presentedto the designer. For example, some characteristics or options may bespecific to a particular gender. Upon selection of the particulargender, characteristics and options with the selected gender will appearfor the designer to use for a proposed apparel item.

In an implementation, the digital brief tool is adapted for use withproducing jeans. For example, the following figures may include variouscharacteristics and options relevant to designing and stylizing ofjeans. However, the digital brief tool may be adapted for use with otherapparel items, such as shirts, jackets, pants, or socks.

The figures in this appendix are screens from an iPad Pro version of thedigital brief software. FIG. 27 shows a screen of a gender selectionfeature of the digital brief tool. The available genders shown on thisscreen include “Men's” and “Women's.” Alternate implementations of thedigital brief tool may provide options for various gender identities(e.g., unisex, children's, infant, or toddler products).

FIG. 28 shows a screen of a gender selection feature of the digitalbrief tool with the “Women's” option selected. The digital brief toolmay retrieve various series, associated with the “Women's” option. Forexample, the series “700,” “Classic,” “Icons,” or other series arepresented.

FIG. 29 shows a screen of a gender selection feature of the digitalbrief tool with the “Men's” option selected. The digital brief tool mayretrieve various series, associated with the “Men's” option. Forexample, the series “500” is presented. The digital brief tool mayinclude various series not shown when the “Men's” option is selected,such as the series “700,” “Classic,” or “Icons.” These options are notpresented unless the options are available to the designer (e.g., withthe “Female's” option instead of the “Men's” option selected).

FIG. 30 shows a screen of a fit selection feature of the digital brieftool. The digital brief tool may retrieve various fits, associated withthe “Men's” and the “500” series options. For example, the fit “511,”“519,” “501,” “501 Shorts,” and “541” fit options are presented.

FIG. 31 shows a screen of a series selection feature of the digitalbrief tool. The digital brief tool may retrieve various fabrics,associated with the “Men's,” the “500” series, and the “511” fitoptions. For example, the fabrics may include “TD-D35518,”“Naveena-NDL-4190-01,” or other fabric options. The fabric options mayinclude “best fit and finish” combinations, that are predeterminedcombinations of fits and fabrics that have been preselected for theirmatching appearance or suitability for use with each other.

FIG. 32 shows a screen of a shade selection feature of the digital brieftool. The digital brief tool may retrieve various shades, associatedwith the “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the“Naveena-NDL-4190-01” options. For example, the shades may include“DDark,” Dark,” “Medium,” and “Light” shade options. A visual example ofhow the various shades would appear when used for the apparel isprovided to assist the designer in proper shade selection.

FIG. 33 shows a screen of a shade selection feature of the digital brieftool. The digital brief tool may retrieve various shades, associatedwith the “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the“USDenim-1722AN-RS01” options. For example, the shades may include“DDark,” Dark,” “Medium,” and “Light” options. A visual example of howthe various shades would appear when used for the apparel is provided toassist the designer in proper shade selection.

FIG. 34 shows a screen including a digital brief image of the digitalbrief tool. The digital brief image reflects the currently selectedoptions, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the“USDenim-1722AN-RS01” options. The screen includes various features usedto modify characteristics that will change the digital brief image. Forexample, a tint feature, a pattern feature, and a damages feature areavailable. The designer may choose any of these features, to update thedigital brief image with selected options. The designer may select oneor more of these features, in any combination and order, to update thedigital brief image.

FIG. 35 shows a screen of a pattern or laser input file selectionfeature of the digital brief tool. For example, the digital brief toolmay include various laser input files that correspond to one or morelaser patterns that may be applied to a particular piece of apparel(e.g., jeans). One or more laser input files with their correspondingpatterns may be visualized and presented to the designer. For example,“HWM 001” corresponds to a laser input file of the digital brief tool.The “HWM 001” laser input file includes a visualization of how the laserpattern, when applied to apparel, would appear. The visualization mayinclude a black-and-white image to represent which areas of an apparelitem will be affected when the laser pattern is applied. Alternateembodiments may include additional colors or different color schemes topresent the same or similar information. For the “HWM 001” pattern, adark area near a knee region of its accompanying visualization indicatesthat, when the “HWM 001” pattern is selected, the knee region will bemodified more than other regions of the apparel, such as the leg openingregion which lacks a dark area. The patterns may indicate where on theapparel the laser input file will modify, but not necessarily indicateintensity or a bright point of the patterns when applied to apparel.

FIG. 36 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization feature of thedigital brief tool. For example, a digital brief image reflects thecurrently selected options, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511”fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and “HWM 002” pattern options. Thelaser patter customization feature may include additional customizationsthat may be applied to a selected pattern option. The digital briefimage includes two rectangles overlaying the digital brief image, eachcorresponding to different areas of the apparel being designed. Here,the rectangles indicate a left and a right leg of the jeans. Therectangles may be moved or resized, depending on the requirements of thedesigner. For example, the selected “HWM 002” pattern may similarlyinclude left and right leg areas. A default size and positioning of therectangles are provided, and the digital brief tool shows how thedigital brief image would be affected by the present size andpositioning. Each rectangle may be resized or positioned to update thedigital brief image. For example, when resizing the rectangle, theaspect ratio of the rectangle may be maintained, but a larger or smallerarea of the digital brief image would be affected. The digital brieftool allows a designer to lock, or temporarily prevent modification, ofthe size or positioning of the rectangles, by selecting a lock image toselectively lock the right or left leg areas.

FIG. 37 shows another screen of a laser pattern customization feature ofthe digital brief tool. For example, a digital brief image reflects thecurrently selected options, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511”fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and “HWM 007” pattern options.

FIG. 38 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization adjustmentfeature of the digital brief tool. For example, a digital brief imagereflects the currently selected options, such as “Men's,” the “500”series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and the “HWM 007”pattern options. In this screen, the size and positioning of therectangles have been locked by the designer and the rectangles arehidden to prevent obstruction of the designer's view of the apparel. Inan implementation, adjustments to the laser pattern customization areprevented until a size or positioning of the left or right leg areas arelocked.

FIG. 39 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization intensityadjustment feature of the digital brief tool. For example, a digitalbrief image reflects the currently selected options, such as “Men's,”the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and the“HWM 007” pattern options. In this screen, the intensity has beenadjusted by a designer from the “1.0” option to the “0.06” option, usinga sliding bar. Updates to the digital brief image are made, according tothe updated intensity option. For example, the intensity may relate toopacity of the laser pattern applied to the apparel. A higher intensityproduces a more pronounced effect of the laser pattern onto the apparel.

FIG. 40 shows another screen of a laser pattern customization intensityadjustment feature of the digital brief tool. For example, a digitalbrief image reflects the currently selected options, such as “Men's,”the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and the“HWM 007” pattern options. In this screen, the intensity has beenadjusted by a designer from the “1.0” option to the “−0.55” option,using a sliding bar. Updates to the digital brief image are made,according to the updated intensity option.

FIG. 41 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization bright pointadjustment feature of the digital brief tool. For example, a digitalbrief image reflects the currently selected options, such as “Men's,”the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and the“HWM 007” pattern options. In this screen, the bright point has beenadjusted by the designer from the “0.5” option to the “0.12” option,using a sliding bar. Updates to the digital brief image are made,according to the updated bright point option. For example, the brightpoint may relate to how much of a laser pattern to apply to the apparel.Reducing a bright point results in apparel where less of the laserpattern is applied to the apparel.

FIG. 42 shows another screen of a laser pattern customization brightpoint adjustment feature of the digital brief tool. For example, adigital brief image reflects the currently selected options, such as“Men's,” the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,”and the “HWM 007” pattern options. In this screen, the bright point hasbeen adjusted by the designer from the “0.5” option to the “−0.35”option, using a sliding bar. Updates to the digital brief image aremade, according to the updated bright point option.

FIG. 43 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization intensity andbright point adjustment feature of the digital brief tool. For example,a digital brief image reflects the currently selected options, such as“Men's,” the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,”and the “HWM 007” pattern options. In this screen, the bright point hasbeen set to “1.0” and the bright point to “−0.47.” Updates to thedigital brief image are made, according to the updated bright pointoption.

FIG. 44 shows a screen of a sharing feature of the digital brief tool.For example, a digital brief image reflects the currently selectedoptions. The designer may choose to share their current changes to otherdesigners or persons for feedback. This feature may leverage existingfeatures of a device the digital brief tool, such as sharing featuresbuilt into Apple Inc's IPAD PRO.

FIG. 45 shows a screen of a current progress feature of the digitalbrief tool. For example, a digital brief image reflects the currentlyselected options.

FIG. 46 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization intensity andbright point adjustment feature of the digital brief tool. For example,a digital brief image reflects the currently selected options, such as“Men's,” the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,”and “HWM 007” pattern options. In this screen, the bright point has beenset to “1.0” and the bright point to “0.21.” Updates to the digitalbrief image are made, according to the updated options.

FIG. 47 shows a screen of a laser pattern customization intensity andbright point adjustment feature of the digital brief tool. For example,a digital brief image reflects the currently selected options, such as“Men's,” the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,”and “HWM 007” pattern options. In this screen, the bright point has beenset to “1.0” and the bright point to “0.46.” Updates to the digitalbrief image are made, according to the updated options.

FIG. 48 shows a screen of a shade adjustment feature of the digitalbrief tool. For example, a digital brief image reflects the currentlyselected options, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511” fit, andthe “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and “HWM 007” pattern options. In thisscreen, a “light” shade has been selected. Updates to the digital briefimage are made, according to the updated shade option.

FIG. 49 shows another screen of a shade adjustment feature of thedigital brief tool. For example, a digital brief image reflects thecurrently selected options, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511”fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and “HWM 007” pattern options. Inthis screen, a “medium” shade has been selected. Updates to the digitalbrief image are made, according to the updated shade option.

FIG. 50 shows another screen of a shade adjustment feature of thedigital brief tool. For example, a digital brief image reflects thecurrently selected options, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511”fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and “HWM 007” pattern options. Inthis screen, a “dark” shade has been selected. Updates to the digitalbrief image are made, according to the updated shade option.

FIG. 51 shows another screen of a shade adjustment feature of thedigital brief tool. For example, a digital brief image reflects thecurrently selected options, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511”fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and “HWM 007” pattern options. Inthis screen, a “ddark” shade has been selected. Updates to the digitalbrief image are made, according to the updated shade option.

FIG. 52 shows a screen of a tint adjustment feature of the digital brieftool. For example, a digital brief image reflects the currently selectedoptions, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511” fit, and the“USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” and “HWM 007” pattern options. The digital brieftool may provide various tints to accent the apparel. The availabletints are displayed using circle swatches. In this screen, a tint optionbeen selected. Updates to the digital brief image are made, according tothe tint option. In an implementation, the tint's intensity may beadjusted. A stronger intensity of tint may produce apparel where theselected tint option appears in the apparel more prominently.

FIG. 53 shows a screen of a damage selection feature of the digitalbrief tool. A grid of different damage patterns are shown in a gird inthe screen. For example, the digital brief tool may present this screento allow a designer to visualize the different types of damage that maybe applied onto apparel, with a name for the damage and an image showinghow the damage may appear.

FIG. 54 shows a screen of a damage feature applied onto apparel of thedigital brief tool. For example, a digital brief image reflects thecurrently selected options, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “501”fit, and the “Cone-XZXXY,” tint and intensity, and the “HWM 015” patternoptions. In this screen, a D14 damage option has been selected. The D14damage option corresponds to a particular damage pattern or design inthe digital brief tool. For example, the screen shows the selected D14damage option on the left leg of the apparel.

FIG. 55 shows another screen of a sharing feature of the digital brieftool. For example, a digital brief image reflects the currently selectedoptions. The designer may choose to share their current changes to otherdesigners or persons for feedback.

FIG. 56 shows another screen of a damage feature applied onto apparel ofthe digital brief tool. For example, a digital brief image reflects thecurrently selected options, such as “Men's,” the “500” series, the “511”fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” tint and intensity, and the “HWM007” pattern options. In this screen, a D15 damage option has beenselected. The D15 damage option corresponds to a particular damagepattern or design in the digital brief tool. The particular damagepattern is overlaid onto the digital brief image. A rectangle isprovided to allow the designer to make further adjustments to the damagepattern option. For example, the screen shows the selected D15 damageoption on the left leg of the apparel.

FIG. 57 shows a screen when modifying a damage feature applied ontoapparel of the digital brief tool. For example, a digital brief imagereflects the currently selected options, such as “Men's,” the “500”series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” tint andintensity, and the “HWM 007” pattern options. In this screen, a D15damage option has been selected. The designer has modified the damageoption by dragging the rectangle to make it larger. The damage patternis enlarged correspondingly. For example, the aspect ratio of the damagepattern is maintained while expanding the damage pattern.

FIG. 58 shows a screen when adding more than one damage pattern with adamage feature of the digital brief tool. For example, a digital briefimage reflects the currently selected options, such as “Men's,” the“500” series, the “511” fit, and the “USDenim-1722AN-RS01,” tint andintensity, and the “HWM 007” pattern options. In this screen, a D15 anda D22 damage option has been selected. The digital brief tool allows thedesigner to adjust the D15 damage pattern on a left leg of the appareland the D22 on the right leg of the apparel. A rectangle for the D22damage pattern indicates that the size or positioning of the D22 damagepattern may be changed by the designer.

Digital Damage Assets

FIG. 59 shows technique of creating damage digital assets. Some types ofdamage are holes and rips in a garment. Holes, emerging holes, and ripshave become part of jean design and styling and fashion. A jean can haveany number of holes, emerging holes, or rips and in different positions,left pant leg, right pant leg, back, or front. A pant leg may have morethan one hole, emerging hole, or rip. A hole, emerging hole, or rip in ajean is representative of damage that occurs from wear and use (whichcan be found in vintage jean patterns).

A laser can be used to create holes or rips in denim material byexposing a region to laser energy for a period of time. The denimmaterial will be thinned and weakened completely through or almostcompletely through, forming the desired damage hole or rip. The laseredgarment is washed in a postlaser wash, which washes away the laser ashto reveal the hole or rip further. The resulting damage hole or rip maynot be completely through because denim may appear be shredded where thehole damage occurred.

Referring to FIG. 59, to create a damage digital asset, a starting inputimage is created using an image editing tool. This starting input imageis burned by the laser into denim fabric and a hole or rip (resultingfrom the starting input image) is formed. The fabric is washed. Then thedamage hole or rip resulting from the starting input in the fabric iscaptured as a digital asset image.

This digital asset is added to the brief builder tools library of damagedigital assets, where it can be called up by the user. The user canselect this damage asset, move and position the damage where desired onthe garment, rotate the damage as desired, scale the damage as desired,and warp the damage as desired. For scaling, the aspect ratio can belocked or unlocked, or both.

For the user in the brief builder tool, an appearance of the damagedigital asset will be as the damage appears on denim material. Forexample, the damage digital asset can be stored in a PNG image file.

The starting input image will be a black object, which the laser willburn into the material. In an implementation, the starting input imageis stored in a BMP image file. A black object in a laser input file willcause the laser to create a white object on the garment. With sufficientlaser power and time, the black object will cause a hole or rip becreated in the garment.

When the user selects a particular damage digital asset in the briefbuilder tool, the starting input image can also be similarly manipulatedand stored into a laser input file. Then the laser input file willinclude the starting input image. So when the laser input file is used,the garment will have damage that appears similar to that selected bythe user in the brief builder tool.

Damage can come in many different shapes and sizes. To provide a varietyof shapes and sizes for the user to select from, a variety of shapes andsizes of starting images are generated, such as the input shape shown inFIG. 59 (e.g., BMP image). Multiple, generated starting inputs areincluded into a single laser file that will be burned onto denimmaterial (e.g., a denim blanket) at one time. The laser file can alsohave unique identifiers for identifier each starting input, and thisunique identifier can be burned into the material as well. For example,in FIG. 59, see the D106, D109, D110, and other identifiers that can beburned into the material.

Then after burning, the denim material will have the unique identifierand the damage, and it will be easier to identify which starting imagecause which damage. An image of each damage item on the material iscaptured, so that it can be converted into a digital asset (see PNGimage in FIG. 59) for the brief builder tool.

The operations in the preview tool described above for displaying laserpatterns on a base image also apply to damage assets. For example, in apreview, damage assets can be displayed, moved or repositioned, rotated,scaled, or warped, or any combination of these. The damage asset can bedisplayed along with the background (e.g., laser pattern and baseimage). A photo or image of damage asset with edge blending can overlaythe other preview layers. With edge blending, towards edges of thedamage asset image, opacity is turned down so the image blends with thebackground image better.

This description of the invention has been presented for the purposes ofillustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise form described, and manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the teachingabove. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and its practical applications.This description will enable others skilled in the art to best utilizeand practice the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to a particular use. The scope of theinvention is defined by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing a garmentdesign previewing tool that shows on a computer screen a preview imageof a garment design as customized by a user with a finishing patterncomprising a damage asset; in the garment design previewing tool,providing an option for the user to select a garment template and uponthe user's selection, showing on the computer screen a first previewimage of the selected garment template; in the garment design previewingtool, providing an option for the user to select a damage asset, whereinthe damage asset comprises at least one of a hole or emerging hole; andafter the damage asset is selected, showing on the computer screen asecond preview image of the selected damage asset in combination withthe selected garment template, wherein the damage asset is created bycreating a damage shape in a black color and associating the damageasset with the damage shape, based on the damage shape, using a laser tocreate the damage asset on a fabric, after a postlaser wash of thefabric with damage asset, capturing an image of the damage asset on thefabric, and using the image of the damage asset in the second previewimage.
 2. The method of claim 1 comprising: in the garment designpreviewing tool, allowing the user to alter a sizing of the damage assetrelative to the selected garment template.
 3. The method of claim 2wherein as the user adjusts the sizing, the altered sizing of the damageasset is displayed on the computer screen in real time.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 comprising: in the garment design previewing tool, allowing theuser to alter a position of the damage asset relative to the selectedgarment template.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein as the user adjuststhe position, the altered positioning of the damage asset is displayedon the computer screen in real time.
 6. The method of claim 1 whereinthe damage asset comprises a rip.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein thegarment design comprises a design for a pair of pants.
 8. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the garment design comprises a design for a pair ofshorts.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the garment design comprises adesign for a pair of jeans.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein thegarment design comprises a design for a jacket.
 11. The method of claim1 wherein in the second preview image, an opacity of an edge of an imageof the selected damage asset is reduced to blend the image of theselected damage asset with the selected garment template.
 12. A methodcomprising: creating a first damage shape in a black color; creating asecond damage shape in a black color, wherein the second damage shape isdifferent from the first damage shape; using a laser to form damagedregions in a fabric based on the first and second damage shapes; washingthe fabric with the damaged regions to reveal a first hole and a secondhole; after the washing, capturing a first image of the first hole inthe fabric that corresponds to the first shape; after the washing,capturing a second image of the second hole in the fabric thatcorresponds to the second shape; using the first image as arepresentation for a first damage asset; using the second image as arepresentation for a second damage asset; providing a digital designtool comprising a preview tool that displays on a computer screen apreview of a garment design as customized by a user before manufacture;and in the digital design tool, allowing the user to select a firstdamage asset based on the first image or the second damage asset basedon the second image.
 13. The method of claim 12 comprising: when theuser selects the first damage asset, showing the first image as part ofa preview of a first garment design being customized by the user; andwhen the user selects the second damage asset, showing the second imageas part of a preview of a second garment design being customized by theuser.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the first hole comprises anemerging hole.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the first holecomprises a rip.
 16. The method of claim 12 comprising: in the digitaldesign tool, allowing the user to alter a sizing of a selected damageasset relative to the selected garment template.
 17. The method of claim16 wherein as the user adjusts the sizing, the altered sizing of thedamage asset is displayed on the computer screen in real time.
 18. Themethod of claim 12 comprising: in the digital design tool, allowing theuser to alter a position of a selected damage asset relative to theselected garment template.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein as theuser adjusts the position, the altered positioning of the damage assetis displayed on the computer screen in real time.
 20. A methodcomprising: providing a digital design tool comprising a preview toolthat displays on a computer screen a preview of a garment design ascustomized by a user before manufacture; creating an image of a damageshape in a single color; storing the damage shape in a damage assetlaser file; based on the damage asset laser file, using a laser to forma damaged region in a first material based on the damage shape; washingthe first material with the damaged region to reveal a hole; after thewashing, capturing an image of the hole in the first material thatcorresponds to the damage shape; using the image of the hole in thefirst material as a preview image of a damage asset that corresponds tothe damage shape; and in the digital design tool, allowing the user toselect the damage asset by using the preview image, and the preview tooldisplays on the computer screen the garment design with the previewimage as customized by the user.
 21. The method of claim 20 comprising:using a laser to create the damage asset on an outer surface of agarment based on a laser input file comprising the damage shape, whereinbased on the laser input file, at a location specified for damage asset,the laser forms a damaged region in a second material in a shapecorresponding to the damage shape.
 22. The method of claim 21 whereinthe garment was made from fabric panels of a woven first materialcomprising a warp comprising indigo ring-dyed cotton yarn, wherein thefabric panels are sewn together using thread.
 23. The method of claim 21wherein the first material comprises a denim and the second materialcomprises a denim.
 24. The method of claim 20 wherein the garment designcomprises a design for a pair of pants.
 25. The method of claim 20wherein the garment design comprises a design for a pair of shorts. 26.The method of claim 20 wherein the garment design comprises a design fora pair of jeans.
 27. The method of claim 20 wherein the garment designcomprises a design for a jacket.
 28. The method of claim 20 wherein thegarment design comprises a design for a vest.
 29. The method of claim 20wherein the garment design comprises a design for a skirt.
 30. Themethod of claim 20 wherein the first material comprises a differentshade from the second material.
 31. The method of claim 20 wherein thefirst material comprises a different weight from the second material.32. The method of claim 20 wherein using the digital design tool, theuser selects a positioning of the damage asset on the garment design.33. The method of claim 20 wherein the single color of the damage shapeis black.
 34. The method of claim 20 wherein the hole comprises ashredded appearance after the wash.